The Salzburg Festival
Salzburg owes its legendary festivals to two men: Max Reinhardt and Richard Strauss.
The director Reinhardt and the composer Strauss founded the “International Music Festival in Salzburg” in 1877. At that time the focus was mainly on concertante music and the spoken theater.
Max Reinhardt was the first director to stage the “Jedermann” by Hugo von Hoffmannsthal on the Salzburg cathedral plate.
From 1920, the festival became the Salzburg Festival, which got a permanent place in the cultural calendar of the city. The performances took place in the “Hofstall barracks”, a temporary festival hall.
In 1922, the operas of Salzburg’s greatest son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, were performed. Since the space was no longer sufficient, the “Felsenreitschule” was added in 1926 as the second venue.
Until 1938, the festival took place regularly in the summer and enjoyed increasing popularity. With the seizure of power of the National Socialists and the annexation of Austria, some pieces were no longer allowed to be performed, including the “Jedermann” and some artists had a performance ban or left Europe. From 1945, the Salzburg Festival took place regularly again.
One of the festival’s biggest artists and mentors was Herbert von Karajan. From 1960 to 1989, the exceptional conductor directed the Salzburg Festival as artistic director. Karajan was not undisputed. Especially his dictatorial style and his selection of artists made for harsh criticism. Among other things, he was accused of engaging only certain artists and thus causing a certain boredom.
After the Karajan era, great conductors like Sir Georg Solti or directors like Rolf Liebermann followed.
Since 2007, Jürgen Flimm has been directing the Salzburg Festival, not always to the taste of the audience.
Nevertheless, a visit to the Salzburg Festival is an experience for every lover of grandiose theater and perfectly staged operas. In addition there is the special flair of the city. The Hotel zur Post offers a stylish and yet comfortable option to stay overnight in Salzburg. Just a 20-minute walk from the charming Old Town, the Hotel zur Post is a traditional Salzburg-style house. The 16 rooms offer the guest all the comfort in a sophisticated atmosphere.
The private hotel “Villa Ceconi”; is also close to the old town. Modern and comfortable, but with a lot of charm and cosiness, the hotel “Villa Ceconi”; is family-run. Eight rooms and two spacious suites are waiting for you.
Salzburg with its many sights, such as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Fortress Hohensalzburg, the famous Mirabell Garden and the many castles in and around Salzburg, is not only worth a visit during the festival.
Further Information: www.salzburgerfestspiele.at